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Cutting Too Close to Home
(by Morgan W. Brown Montpelier - April 15, 2009)
Editor:
During the last meeting of the Vermont Department of Mental Health (VT DMH) Transformation Council, "Commissioner Michael Hartman briefed the group of twenty consumers, providers, advocates, and staff on the elimination of positions necessitated by projected deficits in the FY 10 budget. Two positions, Quality Management and Housing, are subject to reduction-in-force provisions pending the outcome of legislative deliberations on the budget. Two other unfilled positions have been eliminated."
The official title of the housing position in question is listed by the state personnel department as being a "mental health community services coordinator," one which is more commonly known by those of us within the state's mental health, housing and homeless circles as the VT DMH housing specialist or housing coordinator.
There is never a good time to cut a position of this sort. Additionally, there is certainly no worse time to do so than under the dire budgetary circumstances currently being faced by local governments, communities and human service providers across the state, as well as the families and individuals served by them, which of course includes those of us who live with serious mental illness and whom also may find ourselves living without permanent housing (i.e., homeless) or otherwise at great risk of such.
The truth is this matter is also about much more than purely being an issue concerning money, funding or revenue or, having enough of these to meet basic human needs. This is particularly the case when it comes to those of a highly vulnerable population at an increased risk of living on the street, staying in a homeless shelter longterm or, either in jail, prison, the state hospital or, some other psychiatric unit or institution elsewhere.
This position is more crucial now than ever. As such, it is the type of position definitely deserving to be spared from the budget ax.
If you agree, please contact your local state representative and state senator(s) as soon as is possible in order to urge them to not allow positions like these to be cut from the state workforce.
Otherwise it could be too late down the road for many of my peers as well as myself in our hopes to find or maintain safe, decent and affordable housing of our own and live independently within our communities as we may choose.
Morgan W. Brown
Montpelier
| Comments (1) |
On June 9, 2009 Morgan said:
Received word yesterday from the Vermont DMH Housing Coordinator that the RIF of their position was rescinded and the position has been spared; the state abolished vacant position instead. |
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